Luxemburg, 18/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On 17 December, the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP), the European Investment Bank instrument devoted to the nine partner countries on the southern rim of the Mediterranean, awarded a €200 million loan to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Tunisia. The loan was granted to five banks (Amen Bank, Arab Tunisian Bank, Banque de l'Habitat, Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie and Union Bancaire pour le Commerce et l'Industrie), which will pass on the FEMIP's favourable conditions to their own borrowers, for long-term loans in support of their investment projects in the industry and services, particularly tourism, health and education, sectors. An interest rebate of 15 basis points will be granted to small and medium-sized enterprises. This is the sixth of this kind of loan made by the FEMIP in Tunisia since 1998, and it takes the total commitment towards Tunisian SMEs to €700 million. (O.L.)